A 35-year-old Plainfield man, with apparent ties to drug sales in Middlesex and Union counties, is facing 11 years in state prison after pleading guilty to drug and weapon charges.

Rafiq Grundy pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the course of committing a drug offense before Union County Superior Court Judge Joseph P. Donohue, sitting in Elizabeth, according to acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park. The case was prosecuted by Union County Assistant Prosecutor Jeremiah Lenihan.

According to Lenihan, earlier this year, Jason Mader, an investigator with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation into alleged drug sales being coordinated by Grundy in portions of Middlesex and Union counties. The investigation expanded to include the Union County Prosecutor’s Office’s Guns, Gangs, Drugs, and Violent Crimes Task Force.

Grundy was arrested Feb. 24. When police searched his vehicle and home they found about 16 ounces of heroin, numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia, and loaded .357- and .22-caliber handguns.

Grundy is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 19. He is expected to served at least 5½ years of his 11-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole.